RPC keeps 14 out of 17 London qualifying trainees

Of the 17 trainees who qualified this year, 14 have accepted permanent associate roles at the London-headquartered firm. It’s worth noting that today’s 82% result is a combined percentage based on RPC’s spring and autumn qualifiers. Thirteen newly qualified (NQ) lawyers will be based in its London office, while one will be relocating to its Hong Kong office.

RPC confirmed two fresh-faced associates will join its insurance practice (one in construction and one in professional & financial risks), four are commercial disputes bound, while corporate, IP & technology, media & commercial and technology & outsourcing will receive two rookies each.

Today’s result equals RPC’s 2017 score. On that occasion it retained 14 out of 17 trainees or 82%.

“Our qualifying trainees are a strong, talented and cohesive group of junior lawyers. Having watched them through their training to qualification, I am delighted that so many are staying within the business for the next stage of their career. Their enthusiasm for their future roles will add further energy to the core, growing teams across our business.”

Legal Cheek’s Firms Most List shows NQ pay at RPC, unlike rival law firms, is “merit-based” and not set around a publicly disclosed fixed-rate. However, we can tell you that trainees at RPC earn £38,000 in year one, rising to £41,000 in year two.

RPC was one of the stand-out performers in our Trainee & Junior Lawyer Survey. The firm bagged A*s for training, quality of work and partner approachability, and As for peer support, tech, office, canteen, social life, perks and work/life balance. RPC went on to win the ‘Best Law Firm for Partner Approachability 2018’ gong at our awards ceremony earlier this year. The results from the new Legal Cheek Trainee and Junior Survey 2018–19 will be revealed next month.

Meanwhile, City outfit Stephenson Harwood has confirmed an autumn retention result of 90% (nine out of ten). Eight newbies will be based at the firm’s London HQ, while one will join its Shanghai office.

“These figures are testament to the importance the firm places on the development of its trainees. The firm remains committed to nurturing and endorsing talent from within and providing its trainees with a supportive environment in which they can fulfil their potential.”

The new recruits will join the firm’s corporate, marine and international trade, commercial litigation, real estate and finance practice groups.

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53 Comments

Anonymous

It is a decent firm to work for. You’re looking at about £65k as an NQ which is pretty dirt on the face of things, but most people are out the door by 7pm.

(8)(8)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 10:57am

You’re not on £65k as an NQ lol.

(2)(2)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 10:58am

Any idea when will FIELDFISHER raise NQ salaries? I had to pawn off my old Corsa to make the rent this month.

(7)(0)

FIELDFISHER

Aug 13 2018 9:08pm

What a shyte firm

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 11:01am

I was on £62.8k as an NQ a year ago and I have been told (by one of those qualifying) that the rates are up to £65k for NQ now. I have no reason to doubt that, although that may be someone a little above the minimum.

(4)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 11:14am

Actually, that’s right.

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 11:06am

Funny how there’s always anonymous positive comments on this firm. Nothing to do with them being a sponsor of course.

(3)(4)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 2:03pm

I am one of the positive commenters. I am happily employed 1PQE at RPC. I’m not going to put my real name here because that would be ridiculous and make me look like a nerd. I think somebody who knows me well enough can probably work out who I am. Hi friends.

(5)(2)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 2:11pm

You weak betacuck. Go US or go home

(5)(6)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 2:21pm

Yeah but how much did you pay Alex?

(1)(0)

Really Poor Cutter

Aug 13 2018 10:54am

“NQ pay at RPC, unlike rival law firms, is “merit-based”

An unassuming, euphemistic way from the firm to tell you that you’re gonna be paid absolute f*ck-all.

(30)(2)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 11:06am

All those other firms are doing it wrong, throwing a dart at a chart of numbers to decide salaries. What numpties.

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 1:26pm

Wat

(0)(5)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 10:56am

Hogan Lovells raises NQ salary to 78k from 75k. They also raised trainee salary to 50k from 49k but yet no coverage of these huge increases.

(7)(2)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 10:57am

“Huge increases”

Mate 😂😂😂

(11)(2)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 11:50am

Clearly sarcasm

(3)(1)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 12:45pm

Yeah sarcasm. You’re so clever.

(0)(1)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 2:29pm

Any chance Bakers will match this?

(0)(1)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 3:27pm

I feel this is the wrong forum to ask that question. However, the last time HL moved, Bakers followed. Therefore, if the OP is correct, there is a strong chance that Bakers will move.

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 4:17pm

According to legal cheek HL page it is correct. Trainee salaries of 45k and 50k (very competitive) and NQ salary of 78 k (just below MC).

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 5:12pm

Still showing 75 rate on HL website though

(0)(1)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 5:30pm

True, perhaps they will update at the start of the next recruitment cycle?

(0)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 11:05am

Any news on Dechart?

(3)(15)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 11:07am

On their name change from Dechert you mean?

(10)(22)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 11:08am

They will need NQ’s to fill the gaps when so many people leave. Bristol partner and senior associates seen interviewing at another local firm in the past fortnight.

(4)(1)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 11:51am

What’s the pay like at Hausfeld? Are they a top firm?

(4)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 7:43pm

What’s a Housefelt?

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 12:12pm

What’s the pay like at Irwin Mitchell? Are they a top firm?

(2)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 12:22pm

Do you enjoy magic beans? They’re very valuable.

(0)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 1:03pm

Tesco value digestives as a trainee and NQ. You’ll get McVitie’s chocolate digestives as a senior associate. You will never rise above this position.

(6)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 12:33pm

Any news on Greenberg NQ rates?

(0)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 1:29pm

They have a black box system.

(0)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 1:34pm

Ballpark?

(0)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 2:22pm

Fenway Park

(2)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 2:26pm

Red Sox

(2)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 12:37pm

What’s the pay these days at Dorsey & Whitney? Someone once told me they are a top US firm.

(2)(5)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 1:38pm

£102.5k at NQ.

(0)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 2:27pm

Wrong, it’s £150k actually. We’re the best paid NQs in London.

(0)(1)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 2:47pm

Wronger. It’s £1,500,000 per week as a vacs schemer.

(14)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 7:45pm

Utter bollox. I get paid little over £15,000,000 per day as an administrative assistant, top firm!!!!

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 8:19pm

I’ve never heard such nonsense in my life. I did a day work experience as the cleaner’s assistant and got £1.5bn.

(6)(1)

Kirkland NQ Stories

Aug 13 2018 1:21pm

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

(17)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 3:52pm

Lightweight. Two days? You gotta pump those numbers up, those are rookie numbers in this city. If you can’t hack it then there are always stale digestive biscuits are waiting for you in Bristol.

(2)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 4:29pm

Brutal and hysterical, 10/10.

(0)(0)

Censor Cheek

Aug 13 2018 5:07pm

What did he say?

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Aug 13 2018 6:06pm

Wasn’t even that bad – something along the lines of I haven’t slept in two days. My c*ck smells. Help me.